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[[Image:Siberian flag.svg|thumb|right|266px|Banner of Siberian regionalism]]
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'''Siberian regionalism''' ({{lang-ru|Сибирское областничество}}, ''Sibirskoye oblastnichestvo'') is a political movement to form an [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous]] [[Siberia]]n polity. It originated in the mid-19th century and reached a high tide with the military activities of [[Aleksandr Kolchak]] and [[Viktor Pepelyayev]] during the [[Russian Civil War]].
{{Infobox political party
| name = Siberian regionalism
| native_name = Сибирское областничество
| chairperson = Pyotr Derber
| ideology = Siberia as an autonomous region (or independent state)
| headquarters = [[Tomsk]]
| country = Russian Federation
| founder = [[Afanasy Shchapov]], [[Grigory Potanin]], [[Nikolay Yadrintsev]]
| legalised = A vote by the Siberian Regional Duma
| governing_body = Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia
| merged = [[Provisional All-Russian Government]]
| flag = Flag of Siberia.svg
}}
'''Siberian regionalism''' ({{langx|ru|Сибирское областничество|lit= Siberian [[oblast]] movement|translit= Sibirskoye oblastnichestvo}}) was a political movement that advocated for the formation of an [[Autonomous administrative division|autonomous]] [[Siberia]]n state. The idea originated in the mid-19th century and reached a high tide with the [[White movement]] military activities of [[Aleksandr Kolchak]] (1874–1920) and [[Viktor Pepelyayev]] (1885–1920) during the [[Russian Civil War]] of 1917–1922.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Pereira |first=N. G. O. |date=1993 |title=The Idea of Siberian Regionalism in Late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24657293 |journal=Russian History |volume=20 |issue=1/4 |pages=163–178 |doi=10.1163/187633193X00117 |jstor=24657293 |issn=0094-288X}}</ref>


== 19th century ==
== Foundations ==
On the heels of [[Afanasy Shchapov]]'s activities in Siberia, a movement advocating a far-ranging autonomy for the region took shape under the name of "regionalism" (''oblastnichestvo''). In the 19th century the movement was founded by Siberian students in [[Saint Petersburg]]: [[Grigory Nikolaevich Potanin|Grigory Potanin]], [[Nikolay Mikhailovich Yadrintsev|Nikolay Yadrintsev]] and people with other backgrounds. Some radical members in 1863 presumably prepared a revolt in Siberia together with exiled Poles and Ukrainians, trying to achieve independence and to begin with the development of a Siberian state, similar to the [[United States]]. Forty-four members of the group were arrested and taken to prison by the Czarist government in May 1865, after watch officers of the Siberian Cadet Corps searched cadet Arseny Samsonov, aged 16, for illicit items and found a proclamation entitled "To Patriots of Siberia," attributed to a collective authorship of [[Grigory Potanin]], [[Nikolay Yadrintsev]], [[S.S. Shashkov]], et al.<ref>Slezikini, Y. ''Arctic Mirrors: Russia and the Small Peoples of the North'', Chapter 4, page 95 - 130, Cornell University Press</ref>
The idea of an autonomous Siberia was supported by Russian anarchist [[Mikhail Bakunin]], hoping it would become a democratic state, prosperous within a union with United States and leading to the collapse of Imperial Russia.<ref name="Bassin">Mark Bassin "Imperial Visions: Nationalist Imagination and Geographical Expansion in the Russian Far East, 1840-1865</ref> Siberia was seen by local thinkers and settlers as means of escape from the oppression of the Russian Empire, and the seed of a possible free and democratic country that would spread freedom across Asia.


=== Regionalism and autonomy ===
In the end of the 19th and at beginning of the 20th century, Siberian regionalists led by Potanin and Yadrintsev formed a legal opposition to Russian colonialism in Siberia; they wrote many books and articles, and organized research into Siberian cultures, economics, races, nationalities, etc. Yadrintsev's greatest book is "Siberia As Colony" (Сибирь как колония), where he postulates that the future of Siberia is domination of the [[white people|white race]] and a European way of development, similar to the U.S., and that Siberians already have many differences from their Russian and East-Slavic ancestors - especially cultural differences such as love of freedom and private initiative.
Siberian [[Regionalism (politics)|regionalism]], according to Susan Smith-Peter, was the first political regionalist movement in a European country.{{sfn|Smith-Peter|2018|p=17}} Following the activities of [[Afanasy Shchapov]] (1830–1876) in Siberia, a movement advocating a far-ranging autonomy for the region took shape under the name of "regionalism" (''oblastnichestvo''). In the 19th century Siberian students in [[Saint Petersburg]]: [[Grigory Nikolaevich Potanin| Grigory Potanin]] (1835–1920), [[Nikolay Mikhailovich Yadrintsev |Nikolay Yadrintsev]] (1842–1894) and people with other backgrounds founded the movement.{{sfn|Watrous|1993|pp=113–132}}


=== Independence ===
== During the Russian civil war==
Some radical members in 1863 presumably{{or|date=March 2021}} prepared a revolt in Siberia together with [[Sybirak |exiled Poles]] and [[Ukrainians in Siberia |Ukrainians]], trying to achieve independence and to begin the development of a Siberian state, similar to the [[United States]].{{cn|date=March 2021}} [[Tsarist bureaucracy | Tsarist authorities]] arrested and imprisoned forty-four members of the group in May 1865, after watch-officers of the Siberian [[Cadet Corps (Russia) |Cadet Corps]] searched cadet Arseny Samsonov, aged 16, for illicit items and found a proclamation entitled "To Patriots of Siberia", attributed to a collective authorship of [[Grigory Potanin]], [[Nikolay Yadrintsev]], {{ill|Serafim Serafimovich Shashkov|ru|Шашков, Серафим Серафимович}} (1841–1882), et al.<ref>Slezikini, Y. ''Arctic Mirrors: Russia and the Small Peoples of the North'', Chapter 4, pages 95–130, Cornell University Press</ref>
After the February Revolution, the development of oblastnichestvo gained momentum, as on May 21, 1917, when the oblastniks convened their first general meeting in [[Irkutsk]], where they heard and discussed the report delivered by [[Ivan Innokentievich Serebrennikov|I.I. Serebrennikov]] "On the autonomy of Siberia". In August, the oblastniks convened the Conference of Public Organizations based on the decision of [[Tomsk Provincial People's Assembly]] as of May 18, 1917. On August 5, 1917, the Conference approved "The Regulations for the Autonomy of Siberia" and heard the report by P.A. Kazantsev "On the Siberian National Banner", which it also unanimously approved: {{cquote|The National Siberian Banner shall be a combination of 2 colours: white and green. White colour means Siberian snow, whilst green colour - Siberian [[taiga]]. The banner shall be rectangular, split into 2 parts diagonally from the left top to right bottom. thus, the upper triangle shall be of green colour, and the lower one - of white colour.}}<ref>The A.S. Pushkin Tomsk Regional Universal Scientific Library: Siberian Oblastnichestvo. Chronicle</ref><ref>The flags of the national entities in Russia in 1917-1920</ref><ref>V.V. Zhuravlev (2000) The National Symbols of the "White" Russia</ref>


The Russian revolutionary [[Mikhail Bakunin]] (1814–1876) supported the idea of an autonomous Siberia in the hope it would become a democratic state, prosperous within a union with United States and leading to the collapse of [[Russian Empire|Imperial Russia]].<ref name="Bassin">Mark Bassin "Imperial Visions: Nationalist Imagination and Geographical Expansion in the Russian Far East, 1840–1865</ref> Local thinkers and settlers saw Siberia as means of escape from the oppression of the Russian Empire, and as the seed of a possible free and democratic country that would spread freedom across Asia.{{Citation needed|date=October 2022}}
On January 28, 1918, the [[Siberian Regional Duma]] was convened in Tomsk in secret, fearing suppression by the [[Bolsheviks]], who occupied the city. The members elected the members of the [[Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia]] from the four political factions. [[Socialist-Revolutionary Party]] delegated P.Ya. Derber to be the Chairman of the Government, colonel A.A. Krakovetsky to take the Ministry of Defence, A.Ye. Novosyolov - Minister of Internal Affairs, N.Ye. Zhernakov - State Controller and Ye.V. Zakharov, S.A. Kudryavtsev and M.B. Shatilov to be ministers with no charge. The Oblastniks delegated P.V. Vologodsky to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs, V.M. Krutovsky - Minister of Public Health, G.B. Patushinsky - Minister of Justice, I.I. Serebrennikov - Minister of Supply and Food, I.A. Mikhailov - Minister of Finance, L.A. Ustrugov - Minister of Railways. The Nationalists and ethnic minorities delegated V.T. Tiber-Petrov to take the position of the Minister of Native Affairs, D.G. Sulima - Minister of Exterritorial Peoples, E.D. Rinchino - Minister of Public Education, G.S. Neometullov to be a minister with no charge. And at last, [[Mensheviks]] delegated two members: M.A. Kolobov to become the Minister of Trade and Industry and I.S. Yudin to become the Minister of Labour. Curiously enough, only a handful of them agreed to take part in the Government. Fairly soon, most of the ministers had to flee to the Far East and stayed there until July, when they went to Vladivostok after it was liberated from [[Bolsheviks|the Bolsheviks]] by the Czechs.


In the end of the 19th and at beginning of the 20th century, Siberian regionalists led by Potanin and Yadrintsev formed a legal opposition to [[Russian colonialism]] in Siberia; they wrote many books and articles, and organized research into Siberian cultures, economics, ethnicities, races, etc. Yadrintsev's greatest book, ''Siberia as a colony'' (Сибирь как колония),<ref>
Meanwhile, on May 27, 1918, colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov, who undertook his best efforts to unite the officer resistance against [[Bolsheviks|the Bolsheviks]], ordered a full scale uprising, which proved to be a total success, as the Whites managed to defeat the Reds and cleared many Siberian cities of their presence. On June 13, 1918, colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov issued an order to form the West Siberian Army (later to become Siberian Army). In a matter of months, he managed to accumulate over 10,000 volunteers across Siberia and Urals, which allowed some of the Siberian ministers headed by P.V. Vologodsky to come back.
{{cite book
| last1 = Yadrintsev
| first1 = Nikolai Mikhailovich
| author-link1 = Nikolai Yadrintsev
| orig-year =
| title = Siberia as a colony: in regard to geographic, ethnographic and historical repests
| year = 1892
| script-title = ru:Сибирь как колония: в географическом, этнографическом и историческом отношении
| trans-title = Sibir' kak koloniya: v geografichesom, etnograficheskom i istoricheskom otnoshenii
| url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_zgEAAAAYAAJ
| language = Russian
| edition = 2, corrected and expanded
| location = Saint Petersburg
| publisher = И.М. Сибиряков
| publication-date = 1892
| access-date = 7 March 2021
}}
</ref> envisaged the future of Siberia as domination of the [[white people |white race]] and a European way of development, similar to the U.S., claiming that the [[Siberians]] already had many differences from their Russian and East-Slavic ancestors — especially cultural differences such as love of freedom and private initiative.{{sfn|Watrous|1993|pp=113–132}}


== Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia==
On June 23, 1918, Vologodsky formed a new Provisional Siberian Government instead of the previously elected Government of Autonomous Siberia, which had virtually no influence and authority whatsoever. He took the chair and ministry of foreign affairs assisted by many of his former member ministers I.I. Serebrennikov, who again became the Minister of Supply, while I.A. Mikhailov was chosen to be the Minister of Finance and M.B. Shatilov - the Minister of Native Affairs. Colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov was appointed Minister of Defence.
{{main|Siberian Republic (1918)}}
After the [[February Revolution]], the development of ''oblastnichestvo'' gained momentum, as on May 21, 1917, when the Oblastniks convened their first general meeting in [[Irkutsk]], where they heard and discussed the report delivered by [[Ivan Innokentievich Serebrennikov|I.I. Serebrennikov]] "On the autonomy of Siberia". In August, the Oblastniks convened the Conference of Public Organizations based on the decision of [[Tomsk Provincial People's Assembly]] as of May 18, 1917.{{sfn|Sushko|2009|pp=174–179}} On August 5, 1917, the Conference approved "The Regulations for the Autonomy of Siberia" and heard the report by P.A. Kazantsev "On the Siberian National Banner", which it also unanimously approved: <blockquote>
The National Siberian Banner shall be a combination of two colours: white and green. White colour means Siberian snow, whilst green colour – Siberian [[taiga]]. The banner shall be rectangular, split into two parts diagonally from the left top to right bottom. thus, the upper triangle shall be of green colour, and the lower one – of white colour.<ref>The A.S. Pushkin Tomsk Regional Universal Scientific Library: Siberian Oblastnichestvo. Chronicle</ref><ref>The flags of the national entities in Russia in 1917–1920</ref><ref>V.V. Zhuravlev (2000) The National Symbols of the "White" Russia</ref> </blockquote>On January 28, 1918, the [[Siberian Regional Duma]] was convened in Tomsk in secret, fearing suppression by the [[Bolsheviks]], who occupied the city. The members elected the members of the [[Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia]] from four political factions:


# [[Socialist-Revolutionary Party|'''The Socialist-Revolutionary Party''']] delegated:
On July 11, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government published the Declaration, declaring its authority over territory of Siberia, and restoration of the Russian state as the ultimate goal of the Siberian government. Decision on the status of Siberia was left to the future All-Russian and Siberian constituent assemblies.
#* P.Ya. Derber to be the Chairman of the Government,
#* Colonel A.A. Krakovetsky to take the Ministry of Defence,
#* A.Ye. Novosyolov – Minister of Internal Affairs,
#* N.Ye. Zhernakov – State Controller,
#* Ye.V. Zakharov, S.A. Kudryavtsev and M.B. Shatilov to be ministers with no charge.
# '''The Oblastniks''' delegated:
#* [[Pyotr Vologodsky|P.V. Vologodsky]] to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
#* V.M. Krutovsky – Minister of Public Health,
#* G.B. Patushinsky – Minister of Justice,
#* [[Ivan Serebrennikov|I.I. Serebrennikov]] – Minister of Supply and Food,
#* I.A. Mikhailov – Minister of Finance,
#* L.A. Ustrugov – Minister of Railways.
# '''The ethnic minorities''' delegated:
#* V.T. Tiber-Petrov to take the position of the Minister of Native Affairs,
#* D.G. Sulima – Minister of Exterritorial Peoples,
#* E.D. Rinchino – Minister of Public Education,
#* G.S. Neometullov to be a minister with no charge.
# '''[[Mensheviks]]''' delegated:
#* M.A. Kolobov to become the Minister of Trade and Industry
#* I.S. Yudin to become the Minister of Labour.


Only a handful of them agreed to take part in the Government. Fairly soon, most of the ministers had to flee to the Far East and stayed there until July, when they went to Vladivostok after it was liberated from [[Bolsheviks|the Bolsheviks]] by the Czechs.{{sfn|Sushko|2009|pp=174–179}}
On November 3, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government sacrificed own independence for the sake of consolidation of all possible forces to fight with Bolsheviks. Thereby it merged with the [[Ufa Directory]], forming [[Provisional All-Russian Government]].


Meanwhile, on May 27, 1918, Colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov, who undertook his best efforts to unite the officer resistance against [[Bolsheviks|the Bolsheviks]], ordered a full scale uprising, which proved to be a total success, as the Whites managed to defeat the Reds and cleared many Siberian cities of their presence. On June 13, 1918, colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov issued an order to form the West Siberian Army (later to become Siberian Army). In a matter of months, he managed to accumulate over 10,000 volunteers across Siberia and Urals, which allowed some of the Siberian ministers headed by P.V. Vologodsky to come back.
==Russian census 2010==
During the 2010 census there were reports of census takers denying the right of citizens to have their nationality recorded as they had stated. Specifically, citizens wishing to have their ethnic identity recorded as '[[Sibiryak (disambiguation)|Siberian]]', have been ascribed as Russians or "Russian Siberians". By law, “Siberian” is listed as one of the possible identities in the official protocols.<ref name="Gloalsib">{{cite news|title=Переписчики массово нарушают право граждан на национальное самоопределение|url=http://globalsib.com/8552/|accessdate=6 November 2010|newspaper=Globalsib|date=16 October 2010}}</ref> Michael Bohm of [[The Moscow Times]] commented on the alleged rise of Siberian self-identification in the census, calling not to return the 'nationality' to Russian passports and citing Siberian "alienation from Moscow".<ref name=mtbohm>{{cite news|last=Bohm|first=Michael|title=Leave Nationality Out of the Passport|url=http://www.themoscowtimes.com/opinion/article/leave-nationality-out-of-the-passport/444974.html|accessdate=6 October 2011|newspaper=The Moscow Times|date=6 October 2011}}</ref> The census results showed that approximately 6,000 citizens identified themselves as 'Siberian'.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://ajw.asahi.com/article/globe/feature/trans-siberian/AJ201209090012 |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2012-09-09 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020155524/http://ajw.asahi.com/article/globe/feature/trans-siberian/AJ201209090012 |archivedate=2012-10-20 |df= }}</ref>


== Provisional Siberian Government ==
==Federalization==
On June 23, 1918, Vologodsky formed a new Provisional Siberian Government instead of the previously elected Government of Autonomous Siberia, which had virtually no influence and authority whatsoever. He took the chair and ministry of foreign affairs assisted by many of his former member ministers I.I. Serebrennikov, who again became the Minister of Supply, while I.A. Mikhailov was chosen to be the Minister of Finance and M.B. Shatilov – the Minister of Native Affairs. Colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov was appointed Minister of Defence.
In 2014, an artist, [[Artyom Loskutov]], wrote about an idea to create a [[Siberian Republic]] within the Russian Federation<ref name=PRI>{{cite news|last=Maynes|first=Charles|title= As Snowden looks on, Russia cracks down on Internet freedom|url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-08-05/snowden-looks-russia-cracks-down-internet-freedom|accessdate=5 August 2014|newspaper=PRI|date=5 August 2014}}</ref> and attempted to organize a mock demonstration called [[Monstration]] for Siberian [[Federalisation]] to take place on August 17 in [[Novosibirsk]]. Russian authorities banned the march and attempted to censor media coverage about the event, citing a recently passed law against "calls to mass unrest, extremist activities or participation in illegal public events." The purpose of the protest was to "ridicule the [[Kremlin]]'s hypocrisy in the [[Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]]" and to raise awareness about politics in Siberia. [[West Siberian economic region|Western Siberia]] provides most of Russia's oil and gas, but the region gets very little benefit{{fact|date=September 2017}} since the taxes go to [[Moscow]].<ref name=TheGuardian>{{cite news|last=Luhn|first=Alec|title= Russia bans Siberia independence march|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/russia-bans-siberia-independence-march-extremism-law|accessdate=5 August 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 August 2014}}</ref> [[BBC Russian Service]] reported about this and were subsequently blocked.<ref name=Zik>{{cite news|title= Russian authorities order news black-out on federalization of Siberia march|url=http://zik.ua/en/news/2014/08/03/russian_authorities_order_news_blackout_on_federalization_of_siberia_march_511481|accessdate=3 August 2014|newspaper=Zik|date=3 August 2014}}</ref>{{Unreliable source?|date=December 2014}}


Under the control of the regionalists, there was a short-term state formation, so-called "[[Siberian Republic]]".{{sfn|Watrous|1993|pp=113–132}}{{sfn|Sushko|2009|pp=174–179}} On July 11, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government published the Declaration, declaring its authority over territory of Siberia, and restoration of the Russian state as the ultimate goal of the Siberian government. Decision on the status of Siberia was left to the future All-Russian and Siberian constituent assemblies.
== Notes ==

<references/>
On November 3, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government sacrificed own independence for the sake of consolidation of all possible forces to fight against the Bolsheviks. Thereby it merged with the [[Ufa Directory]], forming [[Provisional All-Russian Government]].{{sfn|Sushko|2009|pp=174–179}}

== Modern movements ==
In 2014, an artist, [[Artyom Loskutov]], wrote in his blog about an idea to create a [[Siberian Republic]] within the Russian Federation<ref name="PRI">{{cite news|last=Maynes|first=Charles|title= As Snowden looks on, Russia cracks down on Internet freedom|url=http://www.pri.org/stories/2014-08-05/snowden-looks-russia-cracks-down-internet-freedom|access-date=5 August 2014|newspaper=PRI|date=5 August 2014}}</ref> and attempted to organize a mock demonstration called [[Monstration]] for Siberian [[federalisation]] to take place on August 17 in [[Novosibirsk]]. Russian authorities banned the march and attempted to censor media coverage about the event, citing a recently passed law against "calls to mass unrest, extremist activities or participation in illegal public events."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Goble|first=Paul|date=2020|title=Siberian Regionalism Is a Growing Threat to Moscow|url=https://www.realclearworld.com/articles/2020/08/05/siberian_regionalism_is_a_growing_threat_to_moscow_501136.html}}</ref> Loskutov denies accusation of separatism.<ref name="PRI"/> The purpose of the protest was to "ridicule the [[Kremlin]]'s claimed hypocrisy in the [[annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation]] and to raise the issue of Siberia's delayed development".<ref name="TheGuardian" /> He claimed that [[West Siberian economic region|Western Siberia]] provides most of Russia's oil and gas, but the region gets very little benefit since the taxes go to [[Moscow]].<ref name="TheGuardian">{{cite news|last=Luhn|first=Alec|title= Russia bans Siberia independence march|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/05/russia-bans-siberia-independence-march-extremism-law|access-date=5 August 2014|newspaper=The Guardian|date=5 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Meanwhile, at the Other End of the Empire ... Putin Scrambles to Squash Siberian Autonomy Movement|date=5 August 2014 |url=http://springtimeofnations.blogspot.com/2014/08/meanwhile-at-other-end-of-empire-putin.html}}</ref>

The [[Sibir Battalion]], a unit in the [[International Legion (Ukraine)|Ukrainian International Legion]], formed during the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]] and claims to be fighting for the independence of minorities in Siberia, namely Yakuts and Buryats. The unit uses the flag of the 1918 provisional government.<ref>{{Cite news |last=AFP |date=October 25, 2023 |title=Ukraine Presents New Unit Formed By Siberian Volunteers |language=en |work=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-russia-war-military-training/32653321.html |access-date=2023-10-30}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Siberia}}
* [[Autonomous administrative divisions of Russia]]
* [[List of active separatist movements in Asia]]
*[[Siberians]]


== References ==
== References ==
{{reflist}}
* Anisimova, A.A. and Olga Echevskaia (2016) "Reading Post-Soviet (Trans)formations of Siberian Identity through Biographical Narrative," REGION: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia 5, no. 2: 127-148.
* Balzer, M, M. (1999) The Tenacity of Ethnicity: A Siberian Saga in Global Perspective. Princeton University Press
* Curtis. K. (1985) The Soviet State: The Domestic Roots of Soviet Foreign Policy. Royal Institute of International Affairs
* von Hagen, Mark (2007) "Federalisms and Pan-movements: Re-imagining Empire," in Russian Empire: Space, People, Power, ed. Jane Burbank, Mark von Hagen and Anatoli Remnev. Indiana University Press, 494-510.
* Hanson, Gary (1974) "Siberian Regionalism in the 1860s," Topic 27: 62-75.
* Kovalaschina, Elena (2007) "The Historical and Cultural Ideals of the Siberian Oblastnichestvo," Sibirica 6, no. 2: 87-119.
* von Mohrenschildt, Dimitri (1981) Toward a United States of Russia: Plans and Projects of Federal Reconstruction of Russia in the Nineteenth Century. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.
* Smith-Peter, Susan (2018) "The Six Waves of Russian Regionalism in European Context, 1830-2000," in Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces," ed. Edith W. Clowes, Gisela Erbsloh and Ani Kokobobo. Routledge, 14-43.
* Tishkov, V. (1997) Ethnicity, Nationalism and Conflict in and after the Soviet Union: The Mind Aflame. Sage Publications Ltd
* Watrous, Stephen (1993) "The Regionalist Conception of Siberia, 1860 to 1920," in Between Heaven and Hell: The Myth of Siberia in Russian Culture, ed. Galya Diment and Yuri Slezkine. St. Martin's Press, 113-132.


== Bibliography ==
* Anisimova, Alla; Echevskaia, Olga (2016). "Reading Post-Soviet (Trans)formations of Siberian Identity through Biographical Narrative," REGION: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia 5, no. 2. pp. 127–148.
* {{cite book |surname1=Anisimova |given1=Alla |surname2=Echevskaya |given2=Olga |chapter=Siberian regional identity: self-perception, solidarity, or political claim? |year=2018 |title=Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces |editor1=Edith W. Clowes |editor2=Gisela Erbslöh |editor3=Ani Kokobobo |pages= |url={{Google books|ulFHDwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |place=London; New York |publisher=Routledge |series=Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series |isbn=978-1-138-20102-6}}
* Balzer, M. M. (1999). The Tenacity of Ethnicity: A Siberian Saga in Global Perspective. Princeton University Press
* Curtis, K. (1985). The Soviet State: The Domestic Roots of Soviet Foreign Policy. Royal Institute of International Affairs.
* von Hagen, Mark (2007). "Federalisms and Pan-movements: Re-imagining Empire," in Russian Empire: Space, People, Power, ed. Jane Burbank, Mark von Hagen and Anatoli Remnev. Indiana University Press, 494–510.
* Hanson, Gary (1974) "Siberian Regionalism in the 1860s," Topic 27: 62–75.
* Kovalaschina, Elena (2007). "The Historical and Cultural Ideals of the Siberian Oblastnichestvo," Sibirica 6, no. 2: 87–119.
* von Mohrenschildt, Dimitri (1981). Toward a United States of Russia: Plans and Projects of Federal Reconstruction of Russia in the Nineteenth Century. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.
* {{cite book |surname=Smith-Peter |given=Susan |chapter=The Six Waves of Russian Regionalism in European Context, 1830–2000 |year=2018 |title=Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces |editor1=Edith W. Clowes |editor2=Gisela Erbslöh |editor3=Ani Kokobobo |pages=14–43 |url={{Google books|ulFHDwAAQBAJ|page=|keywords=|text=|plainurl=yes}} |place=London; New York |publisher=Routledge |series=Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series |isbn=978-1-138-20102-6}}
* {{cite journal |date=June 2009 |surname=Sushko |given=Valentina A. |title=Сибирский национализм и борьба за власть в крае (март 1917 — ноябрь 1918 г.) |trans-title=Siberian nationalism and the struggle for power in the region (March 1917 – November 1918) |journal=Вестник Томского государственного университета [ Tomsk State University Bulletin] |volume=323 |pages=174–179 |issn=1561-7793 |lang=ru |url=http://sun.tsu.ru/mminfo/000063105/323/image/323-174.pdf}}
* [[Valery Tishkov|Tishkov, Valery]] (1997). Ethnicity, Nationalism and Conflict in and after the Soviet Union: The Mind Aflame. Sage Publications Ltd.
* {{cite book |surname=Watrous |given=Stephen |chapter=The Regionalist Conception of Siberia, 1860 to 1920 |year=1993 |title=Between Heaven and Hell: The Myth of Siberia in Russian Culture |editor1=Galya Diment |editor2=Yuri Slezkine |place=New York |publisher=St. Martin's Press |pages=113–132 |isbn=978-0-312-06072-5}}

== External links ==
* [http://oblastnichestvo.lib.tomsk.ru/page.php?id=80 The A.S. Pushkin Tomsk Regional Universal Scientific Library: Siberian Oblastnichestvo. Chronicle]
* [http://oblastnichestvo.lib.tomsk.ru/page.php?id=80 The A.S. Pushkin Tomsk Regional Universal Scientific Library: Siberian Oblastnichestvo. Chronicle]
* [http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/index.htm The flags of the national entities in Russia in 1917-1920]
* [http://www.vexillographia.ru/russia/index.htm The flags of the national entities in Russia in 1917–1920]
* [http://www.zaimka.ru/white/zhuravlev2.shtml V.V. Zhuravlev (2000) The National Symbols of the "White" Russia]
* [http://www.zaimka.ru/white/zhuravlev2.shtml V.V. Zhuravlev (2000) The National Symbols of the "White" Russia]
* [https://jamestown.org/program/siberian-regionalism-a-growing-threat-to-moscow/ Siberian regionalism: a growing threat to Moscow] at Jamestown.org

{{Separatists in Russia}}
{{Stateless nationalism in Europe}}
{{Stateless nationalism in Asia}}


[[Category:Nationalism in Russia]]
[[Category:History of Siberia]]
[[Category:History of Siberia]]
[[Category:Separatism in Russia]]
[[Category:Separatism in Russia]]
[[Category:Nationalist movements in Asia]]
[[Category:Post–Russian Empire states]]
[[Category:Siberian nationalism| ]]
[[Category:Siberian nationalism]]
[[Category:Political movements in the Russian Empire]]

Latest revision as of 05:09, 27 November 2024

Siberian regionalism
Сибирское областничество
ChairpersonPyotr Derber
Governing bodyProvisional Government of Autonomous Siberia
FounderAfanasy Shchapov, Grigory Potanin, Nikolay Yadrintsev
LegalisedA vote by the Siberian Regional Duma
Merged intoProvisional All-Russian Government
HeadquartersTomsk
IdeologySiberia as an autonomous region (or independent state)
Party flag

Siberian regionalism (Russian: Сибирское областничество, romanized: Sibirskoye oblastnichestvo, lit. 'Siberian oblast movement') was a political movement that advocated for the formation of an autonomous Siberian state. The idea originated in the mid-19th century and reached a high tide with the White movement military activities of Aleksandr Kolchak (1874–1920) and Viktor Pepelyayev (1885–1920) during the Russian Civil War of 1917–1922.[1]

Foundations

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Regionalism and autonomy

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Siberian regionalism, according to Susan Smith-Peter, was the first political regionalist movement in a European country.[2] Following the activities of Afanasy Shchapov (1830–1876) in Siberia, a movement advocating a far-ranging autonomy for the region took shape under the name of "regionalism" (oblastnichestvo). In the 19th century Siberian students in Saint Petersburg: Grigory Potanin (1835–1920), Nikolay Yadrintsev (1842–1894) and people with other backgrounds founded the movement.[3]

Independence

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Some radical members in 1863 presumably[original research?] prepared a revolt in Siberia together with exiled Poles and Ukrainians, trying to achieve independence and to begin the development of a Siberian state, similar to the United States.[citation needed] Tsarist authorities arrested and imprisoned forty-four members of the group in May 1865, after watch-officers of the Siberian Cadet Corps searched cadet Arseny Samsonov, aged 16, for illicit items and found a proclamation entitled "To Patriots of Siberia", attributed to a collective authorship of Grigory Potanin, Nikolay Yadrintsev, Serafim Serafimovich Shashkov [ru] (1841–1882), et al.[4]

The Russian revolutionary Mikhail Bakunin (1814–1876) supported the idea of an autonomous Siberia in the hope it would become a democratic state, prosperous within a union with United States and leading to the collapse of Imperial Russia.[5] Local thinkers and settlers saw Siberia as means of escape from the oppression of the Russian Empire, and as the seed of a possible free and democratic country that would spread freedom across Asia.[citation needed]

In the end of the 19th and at beginning of the 20th century, Siberian regionalists led by Potanin and Yadrintsev formed a legal opposition to Russian colonialism in Siberia; they wrote many books and articles, and organized research into Siberian cultures, economics, ethnicities, races, etc. Yadrintsev's greatest book, Siberia as a colony (Сибирь как колония),[6] envisaged the future of Siberia as domination of the white race and a European way of development, similar to the U.S., claiming that the Siberians already had many differences from their Russian and East-Slavic ancestors — especially cultural differences such as love of freedom and private initiative.[3]

Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia

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Main article: Siberian Republic (1918)

After the February Revolution, the development of oblastnichestvo gained momentum, as on May 21, 1917, when the Oblastniks convened their first general meeting in Irkutsk, where they heard and discussed the report delivered by I.I. Serebrennikov "On the autonomy of Siberia". In August, the Oblastniks convened the Conference of Public Organizations based on the decision of Tomsk Provincial People's Assembly as of May 18, 1917.[7] On August 5, 1917, the Conference approved "The Regulations for the Autonomy of Siberia" and heard the report by P.A. Kazantsev "On the Siberian National Banner", which it also unanimously approved:

The National Siberian Banner shall be a combination of two colours: white and green. White colour means Siberian snow, whilst green colour – Siberian taiga. The banner shall be rectangular, split into two parts diagonally from the left top to right bottom. thus, the upper triangle shall be of green colour, and the lower one – of white colour.[8][9][10]

On January 28, 1918, the Siberian Regional Duma was convened in Tomsk in secret, fearing suppression by the Bolsheviks, who occupied the city. The members elected the members of the Provisional Government of Autonomous Siberia from four political factions:

  1. The Socialist-Revolutionary Party delegated:
    • P.Ya. Derber to be the Chairman of the Government,
    • Colonel A.A. Krakovetsky to take the Ministry of Defence,
    • A.Ye. Novosyolov – Minister of Internal Affairs,
    • N.Ye. Zhernakov – State Controller,
    • Ye.V. Zakharov, S.A. Kudryavtsev and M.B. Shatilov to be ministers with no charge.
  2. The Oblastniks delegated:
    • P.V. Vologodsky to become the Minister of Foreign Affairs,
    • V.M. Krutovsky – Minister of Public Health,
    • G.B. Patushinsky – Minister of Justice,
    • I.I. Serebrennikov – Minister of Supply and Food,
    • I.A. Mikhailov – Minister of Finance,
    • L.A. Ustrugov – Minister of Railways.
  3. The ethnic minorities delegated:
    • V.T. Tiber-Petrov to take the position of the Minister of Native Affairs,
    • D.G. Sulima – Minister of Exterritorial Peoples,
    • E.D. Rinchino – Minister of Public Education,
    • G.S. Neometullov to be a minister with no charge.
  4. Mensheviks delegated:
    • M.A. Kolobov to become the Minister of Trade and Industry
    • I.S. Yudin to become the Minister of Labour.

Only a handful of them agreed to take part in the Government. Fairly soon, most of the ministers had to flee to the Far East and stayed there until July, when they went to Vladivostok after it was liberated from the Bolsheviks by the Czechs.[7]

Meanwhile, on May 27, 1918, Colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov, who undertook his best efforts to unite the officer resistance against the Bolsheviks, ordered a full scale uprising, which proved to be a total success, as the Whites managed to defeat the Reds and cleared many Siberian cities of their presence. On June 13, 1918, colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov issued an order to form the West Siberian Army (later to become Siberian Army). In a matter of months, he managed to accumulate over 10,000 volunteers across Siberia and Urals, which allowed some of the Siberian ministers headed by P.V. Vologodsky to come back.

Provisional Siberian Government

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On June 23, 1918, Vologodsky formed a new Provisional Siberian Government instead of the previously elected Government of Autonomous Siberia, which had virtually no influence and authority whatsoever. He took the chair and ministry of foreign affairs assisted by many of his former member ministers I.I. Serebrennikov, who again became the Minister of Supply, while I.A. Mikhailov was chosen to be the Minister of Finance and M.B. Shatilov – the Minister of Native Affairs. Colonel A.N. Grishin-Almazov was appointed Minister of Defence.

Under the control of the regionalists, there was a short-term state formation, so-called "Siberian Republic".[3][7] On July 11, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government published the Declaration, declaring its authority over territory of Siberia, and restoration of the Russian state as the ultimate goal of the Siberian government. Decision on the status of Siberia was left to the future All-Russian and Siberian constituent assemblies.

On November 3, 1918, the Provisional Siberian Government sacrificed own independence for the sake of consolidation of all possible forces to fight against the Bolsheviks. Thereby it merged with the Ufa Directory, forming Provisional All-Russian Government.[7]

Modern movements

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In 2014, an artist, Artyom Loskutov, wrote in his blog about an idea to create a Siberian Republic within the Russian Federation[11] and attempted to organize a mock demonstration called Monstration for Siberian federalisation to take place on August 17 in Novosibirsk. Russian authorities banned the march and attempted to censor media coverage about the event, citing a recently passed law against "calls to mass unrest, extremist activities or participation in illegal public events."[12] Loskutov denies accusation of separatism.[11] The purpose of the protest was to "ridicule the Kremlin's claimed hypocrisy in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation and to raise the issue of Siberia's delayed development".[13] He claimed that Western Siberia provides most of Russia's oil and gas, but the region gets very little benefit since the taxes go to Moscow.[13][14]

The Sibir Battalion, a unit in the Ukrainian International Legion, formed during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and claims to be fighting for the independence of minorities in Siberia, namely Yakuts and Buryats. The unit uses the flag of the 1918 provisional government.[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Pereira, N. G. O. (1993). "The Idea of Siberian Regionalism in Late Imperial and Revolutionary Russia". Russian History. 20 (1/4): 163–178. doi:10.1163/187633193X00117. ISSN 0094-288X. JSTOR 24657293.
  2. ^ Smith-Peter 2018, p. 17.
  3. ^ a b c Watrous 1993, pp. 113–132.
  4. ^ Slezikini, Y. Arctic Mirrors: Russia and the Small Peoples of the North, Chapter 4, pages 95–130, Cornell University Press
  5. ^ Mark Bassin "Imperial Visions: Nationalist Imagination and Geographical Expansion in the Russian Far East, 1840–1865
  6. ^ Yadrintsev, Nikolai Mikhailovich (1892). Siberia as a colony: in regard to geographic, ethnographic and historical repests Сибирь как колония: в географическом, этнографическом и историческом отношении [Sibir' kak koloniya: v geografichesom, etnograficheskom i istoricheskom otnoshenii] (in Russian) (2, corrected and expanded ed.). Saint Petersburg: И.М. Сибиряков. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  7. ^ a b c d Sushko 2009, pp. 174–179.
  8. ^ The A.S. Pushkin Tomsk Regional Universal Scientific Library: Siberian Oblastnichestvo. Chronicle
  9. ^ The flags of the national entities in Russia in 1917–1920
  10. ^ V.V. Zhuravlev (2000) The National Symbols of the "White" Russia
  11. ^ a b Maynes, Charles (5 August 2014). "As Snowden looks on, Russia cracks down on Internet freedom". PRI. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  12. ^ Goble, Paul (2020). "Siberian Regionalism Is a Growing Threat to Moscow".
  13. ^ a b Luhn, Alec (5 August 2014). "Russia bans Siberia independence march". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 August 2014.
  14. ^ "Meanwhile, at the Other End of the Empire ... Putin Scrambles to Squash Siberian Autonomy Movement". 5 August 2014.
  15. ^ AFP (October 25, 2023). "Ukraine Presents New Unit Formed By Siberian Volunteers". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Retrieved 2023-10-30.

Bibliography

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  • Anisimova, Alla; Echevskaia, Olga (2016). "Reading Post-Soviet (Trans)formations of Siberian Identity through Biographical Narrative," REGION: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia 5, no. 2. pp. 127–148.
  • Anisimova, Alla; Echevskaya, Olga (2018). "Siberian regional identity: self-perception, solidarity, or political claim?". In Edith W. Clowes; Gisela Erbslöh; Ani Kokobobo (eds.). Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces. Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series. London; New York: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-138-20102-6.
  • Balzer, M. M. (1999). The Tenacity of Ethnicity: A Siberian Saga in Global Perspective. Princeton University Press
  • Curtis, K. (1985). The Soviet State: The Domestic Roots of Soviet Foreign Policy. Royal Institute of International Affairs.
  • von Hagen, Mark (2007). "Federalisms and Pan-movements: Re-imagining Empire," in Russian Empire: Space, People, Power, ed. Jane Burbank, Mark von Hagen and Anatoli Remnev. Indiana University Press, 494–510.
  • Hanson, Gary (1974) "Siberian Regionalism in the 1860s," Topic 27: 62–75.
  • Kovalaschina, Elena (2007). "The Historical and Cultural Ideals of the Siberian Oblastnichestvo," Sibirica 6, no. 2: 87–119.
  • von Mohrenschildt, Dimitri (1981). Toward a United States of Russia: Plans and Projects of Federal Reconstruction of Russia in the Nineteenth Century. Fairleigh Dickinson University Press.
  • Smith-Peter, Susan (2018). "The Six Waves of Russian Regionalism in European Context, 1830–2000". In Edith W. Clowes; Gisela Erbslöh; Ani Kokobobo (eds.). Russia's Regional Identities: The Power of the Provinces. Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series. London; New York: Routledge. pp. 14–43. ISBN 978-1-138-20102-6.
  • Sushko, Valentina A. (June 2009). "Сибирский национализм и борьба за власть в крае (март 1917 — ноябрь 1918 г.)" [Siberian nationalism and the struggle for power in the region (March 1917 – November 1918)] (PDF). Вестник Томского государственного университета [ Tomsk State University Bulletin] (in Russian). 323: 174–179. ISSN 1561-7793.
  • Tishkov, Valery (1997). Ethnicity, Nationalism and Conflict in and after the Soviet Union: The Mind Aflame. Sage Publications Ltd.
  • Watrous, Stephen (1993). "The Regionalist Conception of Siberia, 1860 to 1920". In Galya Diment; Yuri Slezkine (eds.). Between Heaven and Hell: The Myth of Siberia in Russian Culture. New York: St. Martin's Press. pp. 113–132. ISBN 978-0-312-06072-5.
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